vegan Tag

Have you seen the news today about vegan diets? Oxford university researchers, who have been tracking the health of people since 1993, have discovered that vegans are TWICE as likely to break a hip compared with non vegans. Why is this? Vegan diets are often lacking some key nutrients, vitamins and minerals that are essential for bone health. Number 1 - calcium. Yes there is calcium in greens, but there is a high percentage...

I quite simply adore Thai food! And the good news is not only that Thai curry’s are surprisingly easy to make thanks to readymade curry pastes, they are also detox friendly! Once again I have made use of some of the fabulous seasonal produce to make an Autumnal curry. Serves: 4 #3 portions of vegetables per serving Ingredients: ½ tablespoon raw coconut oil (fat) 1 cup brown basmati rice (carb) 2 raw coconut...

Both the ruby red colour and rich flavour of this soup is quite simply stunning!   The acidity of the tomatoes contrast the sweetness of the beetroot. An excellent source of folic acid and a very good source of fibre, manganese and potassium, beetroot is also great for reducing blood pressure. Serves: 4 #3 portions vegetables per serving Ingredients: 2 tablespoons olive oil (fat) 750gm beetroot (carb) 500gm vine tomatoes (carb) 4 shallots - peeled...

A great way to start the day during the Autumn, or any other day that you feel like a moreish smoothie for breakfast, delicately spiced with warming winter spices. Think of it as pumpkin pie in a glass! Serves: 2 Ingredients: 150gm roasted pumpkin 150ml coconut milk 200ml coconut water 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice 1-2 teaspoons nut butter 1 teaspoon raw honey ¼ teaspoon vanilla essence Ingredients for Pumpkin Pie Spice: 3 teaspoons ground cinnamon 1 teaspoon ground ginger 1 teaspoon freshly...

Serves: 4 #1 portions of vegetables per serving 1 cup quinoa, approx. 200g (carb) 1 ½ cups vegetable stock (approx. 375ml) 120g vine ripened cherry tomatoes, halved (carb) ½ cucumber, chopped (carb) 4 spring onions (carb) 1 small bunch flat leaf parsley, chopped ½ small bunch fresh mint, chopped ½ small bunch fresh coriander, chopped Optional: add your favourite white fish to include protein in the meal For the dressing; Juice 1 lemon (carb) 3...

This light, crisp and tangy green slaw with its light fruity and yet spicy dressing is quick and easy to make and goes beautifully with chicken or rice dishes, providing lots of lovely raw enzymes to aid your digestion. Serves: 4 Ingredients: ½ Savoy Cabbage 1 green pepper 1 green apple A few sprigs fresh mint A few sprigs fresh coriander Dressing: 4 tablespoons olive oil Juice and zest of 2 limes ½ mango ½ - 1 green chilli, deseeded and roughly...

My sprialiser is possibly my favourite kitchen gadget and a great way to get make fruit and vegetables more exciting for the whole family in just minutes. The pesto can be made in advance and kept in a sealed jar in the fridge for upto two weeks. Serves: 4 Ingredients: 4 large courgettes (carb) 2 large handfuls of fresh basil leaves (carb) 2 cloves garlic, crushed (carb) 75-100ml extra virgin cold pressed olive oil...

This is quite simply the best salad, ever, inspired by Peter Gordon. Capable of turning the most convicted of carnivores into vegetarians!   And yes, there is enough garlic in there to keep the vampires away! Serves: 4 #1 portion of vegetables per serving 450g cooked chick peas (2 x 450g tins precooked) - thoroughly rinsed 3 red onions - peeled and finely sliced 6 tbsp olive oil 1 or 2 red chillies - de-seeded and finely...

This breakfast recipe created by a Swiss physician in approximately 1900 Dr Maximilian Bircher-Brenner who used to give it to his patients in hospital. If only hospital food was this good now! Serves 4 100g oats (soaked to make them easier to digest) (carb) 100ml almond milk (or other non-dairy milk of your choice) (fat) 150ml pot natural live yoghurt (with live friendly gut bacteria), fat or protein 100ml apple juice (ideally...

Serves: 4 #3 portions of vegetables per serving Ingredients: 1 cup quinoa + 1 ½ cups water 300g mixed green leaves (I love spinach, watercress and rocket) ½ cucumber, chopped 1 avocado, chopped 1 bunch asparagus 1 red onion, finely chopped 100g shelled pistachios or hazelnuts , chopped (not suitable for Rejuvadetox) 3 tbsp chopped mint 3 tbsp chopped flat leaf parsley For the dressing; Juice & grated rind of 1 lemon 4 tbsp olive oil 2 tbsp pomegranate molasses (optional, not suitable for...

These fabulous small but nutritionally mighty lentils are another favourite of mine. Originating in France, they have a wonderful nutty flavour and when cooked with the addition of some stock and herbs they are absolutely delicious and can be used in a variety of ways. They also get the thumbs up on the fibre front containing approximately 40% insoluble dietary fibre.   The pomegranate molasses is now available in most supermarkets...

The combination of these fruits creates quite an explosion of textures and flavours in your mouth and is quite simply delicious! Serves: 2 #3 portions of fruit per serving Ingredients: 4 slices of pineapple 1 pomegranate 2 passion fruit Remove the skin from the pineapple and cut into bite size chunks and place in a bowl.  Cut the pomegranate in half, hold cut side down in the palm of your hand and with the other hand firmly...

These lovely little snacks are easy to make and highly nutritious.   Packed full of protein and fibre, they are great to help curb any sweet cravings you may have and keep you satisfied for longer.  Soaking the almonds overnight activates the enzymes in them. Soaking the almonds activates them, releasing enzyme inhibitors, making them more easily digested allowing for greater absorption of nutrients. Makes 18 100g almonds, soaked in water overnight 125g raisins 2 tablespoons...

This avocado based Mexican dip is quick and easy to make, either by hand or with the aid of a food processor. You can omit the chilli if you like things on the cooler side. Serve either on its own, or with tomato Salsa, with vegetable crudité either as a snack or light lunch with some oatcakes. Also makes a great healthy snack for kids! Serves 4 Ingredients 2 avocados, peeled, deseeded and...

‘Gluten Free’ tends to be over used as a marketing ploy these days.  Oats themselves are gluten free, however often they come into contact with gluten during either the growing or manufacturing process.   Unless you are a coeliac, in which case you would do well to avoid even the ones labelled ‘gluten free’ to be safe, you don’t need to go out of your way to find the ‘gluten free’...

Very much a meal in itself, this soup packs a punch on the flavour front, is most definitely good for mind, body and soul and great for boosting the immune system.  This should blast any potential threat of a cold clear! Serves: 2 Ingredients 200gm chicken or turkey breast 2 teaspoons olive 2 teaspoons sesame oil 2 cloves garlic – finely chopped 1 tsp grated fresh ginger 1 small red chilli – sliced into rounds (seeds removed) 4 spring...

This amazing smoothie makes a heavy duty snack or even a light lunch.  Feel free to add a whole avocado if you are having it as a lunch.  The avocado provides a perfectly balanced diet, containing all 6 nutritional needs; water, fat, protein, natural sugar, vitamins and minerals.   The carrot supports the cleansing of the liver and the basil adds a beautiful twist. Serves 1 2 portions of vegetables and 2 portions...

This is a Turkish family recipe that my college friend Aisha used to make for me when I visited her at home.  I love the zingy combination of the lemon and lentils and the addition of rice makes it a meal in itself. Serves: 4 Ingredients 2 tablespoons olive oil (fat) 1 large onion – finely chopped (carb) 2 carrots – finely chopped (carb) 4 cloves garlic – finely sliced (carb) 200gm red lentils (carb) 100gm...

Feel free to play around with whatever vegetables are in season to your liking. You could for example replace the peas or beans with courgettes or mushrooms if you prefer. Serves: 4 #3 portions of veg per serving. Ingredients: 2 tbsp olive oil (fat) 2 tbsp coconut oil (fat) 1 large onion – finely chopped (carb) 2 sticks celery – finely chopped (carb) 2 cloves garlic - crushed (carb) 200g risotto rice (carb) 900ml chicken or...

The chia seeds provide 11gm fibre, 5gm Omega 3 and 4.4gm protein per serving! Serves 2 50g Chia seeds 250ml almond milk OR pomegranate juice (unsweetened) 200g strawberries OR raspberries or other berries of your choice 2tsp raw honey or agave syrup Place the seeds in a bowl and add the milk or pomegranate juice and leave to soak for 1 hour, stirring occasionally to make sure it doesn’t go lumpy! They will swell up and...

This tastes like pesto pasta, honest! Ingredients For the Pasta 2 courgettes For the Pesto ¼  cup pumpkin seeds ¼ cup of pine nuts ½  cup olive oil 2 Tbsp lemon 2 cups lightly packed basil 1 clove garlic, minced 1 tsp salt Equipment Spiraliser or vegetable peeler Food processor Directions For the Pasta Spiralise the courgettes or use the vegetable peeler to peel strips of courgette so you end up with a ‘tagliatelle’ style pasta For the Pesto Blend the ingredients in a food processor Pour the pesto...

Ingredients 2 large tomatoes (carb) 1 desert spoon sun dried tomatoes (fat) Handful basil, coriander or parsley (whichever is your favourite) Pinch of Himalayan pink salt 2 soaked dates (carb) Pinch of cumin Handful of cashews (fat) A mugful of water Blend all the above in a powerful food blender - add more water if it needs to be thinner or more cashews if you prefer it creamier. Blend until its really...

Crunch away at these delicious posh crisp alternatives guilt free! Ingredients 1 bag of kale well washed (carb) 1.5 cups cashews (fat) Juice of half lemon (carb) Large pinch Himalayan salt Desert spoon of nutritional yeast In a food processor mix the yeast, salt, lemon juice and cashews until it makes a paste - add a little water if necessary. Coat your kale in the mixture. Pop your kale on a baking sheet and pop...

Rich in beta carotene, this soup is a wonderful deep purple colour and has a sweet taste to it. Experiment with the recipe by adding different types of root vegetables and different herbs and spices. Its very versatile! 1 red onion, peeled and diced (carb) garlic clove, peeled and sliced (carb) 1 large sweet potato (carb) 2 raw beetroot (carb) 3-4 organic carrots (carb) a pinch dried chilli flakes (optional) 1 tsp of cumin seeds 300ml...